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Current LKL vice champions and ULEB Cup winners thread.

Official website http://bc.lrytas.lt



History

History of Lietuvos Rytas basketball club dates back only eight seasons, but the annals of the team are already marked with important victories.

In 2000 and 2002 Lietuvos Rytas won the national title, in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005 took the second place, and in 1998 won the bronze.

The most remarkable was last season, when Vilnius team won ULEB Cup and earned spot in the Euroleague.

Very important mark in the team history also was at 2002, when Lietuvos Rytas took golden rings of LKL champions from Zalgiris Kaunas for the second time and beat the best Russian club, Ural Great Perm, in the final of NEBL Open Championship.

For the first time Lietuvos Rytas won the LKL title during season of 1999-2000, when they dethroned long time Lithuanian champions, Zalgiris. The same year Lietuvos Rytas challenged basketball giants from Bologna, Kinder, in the semifinals of Saporta Cup. Italian super club slipped to the finals by only two points: after losing 60-70 in Lithuania, Kinder took advantage at home, 83-71.

Lietuvos Rytas reached the finals of the NEBL, where they lost to CSKA Moscow.

Lietuvos Rytas started the season of 2000-2001 having two Olympic bronze medal winners, team leaders Ramunas Siskauskas and Andrius Giedraitis.

In fall of 2000 Lietuvos Rytas made its debut at the elite European club tournament, the Suproleague. After difficult start the club made it to the play-offs. In the round of Top-16 Vilnius team lost to Efes Pilsen Istanbul 1:2.

Lietuvos Rytas reached the Final Four of 2000-2001 NEBL Championship and took the third place.

2001-2002 season of Lietuvos Rytas was marked not only with impressive victories but with a terrible accident, too. After having dethroned Ural Great in the NEBL final, the main center of Lietuvos Rytas, Robertas Javtokas, was severely injured in motorcycle accident.

Even without Javtokas, Lietuvos Rytas was able to beat Zalgiris in the LKL final series 4:3.

2002-2003 season Lietuvos Rytas lost to Zalgiris in LKL finals and was defeated by Unics Kazan in FIBA Champions Cup Conference North final.

Lietuvos Rytas made debut in ULEB Cup competition in 2003 and reached quarterfinal. At national level Vilnius team kept fighting for LKL golden rings, but lost to Zalgiris at the final.

In 2004-2005 season after climbing to the highest point in the ULEB Cup competition, Lietuvos Rytas lost in the LKL final against Zalgiris. Vilnius team also finished second in the inaugural BBL championship.

Last summer Lietuvos Rytas kept nucleus of the team and also strenghtened roster adding some new players, including Australian national team leader Matthew Nielsen.

Moreover, Croatia's national team coach Neven Spahija stepped in as the head coach of Lietuvos Rytas.

"Team is ready for big challenges at every competition we participate in: Euroleague, BBL and LKL", - said Lietuvos Rytas club director Jonas Vainauskas.

Titles

2005 LKL vice champions
2005 BBL vice champions
2005 ULEB Cup winners
2004 LKL vice champions
2003 LKL vice champions
2002 LKL champions
2002 NEBL champions
2001 LKL vice champions
2000 LKL champions
1999 LKL vice champions

2005-2006 squad





Siemens Arena

they should build squad with more Lithuanians !

Spahija said that he wants more Lithuanian players next season. The team will probably have major changes because Javtokas and Jasaitis might leave. Also Baker, Buskevics and Mujeznovic should be fired in my opinion. Especially if the team won't play in Euroleague next season so it would be better to follow Olympiacos example. They signed many young talented players last season and you can see results this season.

i like this team they rock they've had quite a good debut season

they will need strong center... very strong imo

will they not compete in euroleague next season and who would be a good centre for them to sign?

Well it is a long story. Each country has a specific number of teams in Euroleague. Like in Champions League in football. Lithuania always had one spot. Last year when Lietuvos Rytas won ULEB Cup they qualified for Euroleague. So for the first time we have 2 teams in Euroleague. Unfortunately ULEB has planned only one spot for Lithuania until 2009. So after this season one team will have to play in ULEB Cup despite their results in Euroleague. But Lietuvos Rytas had a good debut season and they clearly are strong enough to play in Euroleague. So everyone here started talking that we must have two spots next year. Now it all depends on ULEB but they are following the money so even France has 2 spots while their clubs are clear outsiders. But they get much money from TV rights etc. Lithuania is a small country even if we have the biggest interest in basketball in the whole Europe. Still ULEB get more money from countries like France. The other problem is that if we keep 2 spots one country will have 1 spot less and noboby wants to lose a place in Euroleague.

There are many good centers but the best ones play for the rich clubs. Maybe someone not very famous. Someone experienced but not old.

thanks so it reallly depends on ULEB decision and countries like france with little basketball interset should lose a space not he countries who are passionate about basketball

Latest news - Simas Jasaitis will probably sign for Barcelona in summer when the season ends. He will be 24 next week and he is very talented player. He is one of the most important players in Lietuvos Rytas. It would be a great loss but in order to progress as a player he has to move. Jasaitis is also followed by Italian, Spanish and Russian clubs.

ahh but he might not move

Lietuvos Rytas main point guard Roberts Stelmahers injured for the second time this season. He is expected to be out for 6 weeks. So he won't able to play this weekend against Zalgiris. Currently two Rytas' players on injured list - Mujezinovic and Stelmahers.

Lietuvos Rytas, new champions of LKL started their preparation for the 2006/2007 season. The club will have to go back to ULEB Cup despite winning LKL and they are are trying to sign young Lithuanian players and sign new contracts with key players. It is known now that leaders Robertas Javtokas and Simas Jasaitis will be leaving the club. Javtokas is linked with San Antonio Spurs and top European clubs. Jasaitis is being hunted by many top class European clubs as well and there is also minor possibility for him to move to NBA. So Rytas need new SF and center.

Lietuvos Rytas Croatian coach is wanted by last year's Euroleague champions and one of the richest if not the richest club - Maccabi Tel-Aviv. He said that he would move away if Rytas board lets him go. Losing Jasaitis, Javtokas and Spahija would be a huge loss for Rytas.

Players signed for Lietuvos Rytas so far



Name: Arturas Jomantas
Height: 200 cm
Weight: 84 kg
Birthdate: 4th May, 1985
Birthplace: Mazeikiai, Lithuania
Position: SF-SG
Team: Siauliai
Last scoring: 13.6 pts



Name: Aurimas Kieza
Height: 203 cm
Weight: 97 kg
Birthdate: 25th October, 1982
Birthplace: Marijampole, Lithuania
Position: SF-PF
Team: Hofstra Pride (NCAA)
Last scoring: 11.1 pts



Name: Ernestas Ezerskis
Height: 192 cm
Weight: 86 kg
Birthdate: 5th May, 1987
Birthplace: Panevezys, Lithuania
Position: PG
Team: Panavezys
Last scoring: 2.7 pts

The latest club to join the race for Robertas Javtokas is Euroleague vice champions Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

Lietuvos Rytas signed another player from Šiauliai. Darius Pakamanis signed 4-year-contract with LKL champions.



Height: 192 cm
Weigth: 80 kg
Birthdate: September 8, 1981
Birthplace: Mažeikiai, Lithuania
Position: SG-PG
Team: Šiauliai

Lietuvos Rytas Croatian coach Neven Spahija was wanted by top European clubs and decided to accept giants Maccabi offer. It is expected that will bring Simas Jasaitis with him who is also hunted by the elite clubs. It is agreat loss for Rytas. Spahija was an amazing coach. Israeli Sharon Drucker is named as the #1 one candidate for Rytas job. He has won ULEB Cup a couple of years ago and is young talented coach. We'll see what he can do. The bad thing might be that Spahija already signed some players for Rytas and Drucker won't have too much choice.

Well the new coach of Lietuvos Rytas is Sharon Drucker. I think there were better choices like Ataman, Sagadin and Recalcati. But Rytas seem to find a good young coach. It will be Rytas 6th coach in three years.

6th coach in three years man, tehy do churn them out.

Quote:6th coach in three years man, tehy do churn them out.

This time they didn't want to let the coach go because he has done a great job but you might only one opportunity in your life to coach Maccabi so he left.

but you may only have one opportunity to coach rytas

Quote:but you may only have one opportunity to coach rytas

Yes but Maccabi is like Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United in football. It's a dream of every coach. Still he could have stayed but he didn't want to miss this chance. As I said before bad thing is that he alreadfy signed palyers and new coach won't have much choice as can't release them unless loan them out.

Rytas released Latvian PG Sandis Buskevics and signed another Latvian PG Janis Blums This was very surprising decision to me. Blums is a bit better player but they could have made a better choice.